My VP office was handed over to the new intern, Owen Miller, by my wife. Owen posted a photo of my office on SnapChat, with a caption: “So grateful for Ms. Sterling’s trust! I’ll work hard and live up to expectations!” I immediately called Sophia. “Why is my private office being occupied by an intern?!” Sophia’s voice was slurred, clearly a little drunk. “Honey, it’s just an office. You’re not even using it right now, are you?” I didn’t back down. “Get Owen out of my office. Ten minutes. That’s all you’ve got!” Sophia didn’t reply. Two minutes later, Sterling Group’s most critical contract was abruptly terminated. If someone wants to challenge my authority, I won’t hesitate to let Sterling Group go bankrupt. Sophia’s calls started hammering my phone, one after another. I let them ring, waiting until the fifth before I finally hit ‘answer.’ Her enraged yell practically tore through the receiver. “Liam Blackwood, are you insane?! That was a two-hundred-million-dollar project! You know the product launch is next week—calling it off now will ruin the company! All this… for one office?!” Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she’d ever blown up at me, all because of some other man. I took a slow sip of my whiskey, feeling the burn as it slid down my throat, a cold dread seeping into my core. “This isn’t about the office.” “Sophia, I want that office back to exactly how it was, down to every single one of my awards and trophies. Don’t even dare move a single thing. Otherwise, Sterling Group will lose even more.” Silence on Sophia’s end for a few agonizing seconds. “You have five minutes left,” I said, my voice ice-cold, and hung up. Two minutes later, she sent me photos. The office was pristine, every single item returned to its exact spot. I immediately called the project lead and rescinded the termination order. But then, I sent Sophia a photo of my own. It was a shot of her home office. Everything cleared out. Gone. Including her most prized possession, that priceless antique she’d just won at auction. The next photo? A close-up of that very antique, smashed to smithereens on the floor. “Sophia, this is your punishment. You know my temper. Don’t test me again.” No reply from her. I knew she was furious, but I was even angrier. Our marriage began as a strategic alliance between our two corporations. Five years ago, she needed Blackwood Industries’ overseas network; I needed Sterling Group’s domestic manufacturing. A corporate marriage of convenience, naturally. It just made sense. No grand, passionate romance. Just a rational, mutually beneficial partnership. “Liam,” Sophia had said before our wedding, her hand in mine, her eyes firm and sincere, “we won’t just support each other in business. After we marry, I’ll trust you, and I’ll respect you.” “I appreciate your honesty, Sophia. I hope for a productive partnership,” I’d replied with a smile. Over five years, we’d gone from strangers to partners, from respect to reliance, and then, a gentle warmth, a nascent love. We’d shared countless nights, wrapped in each other’s arms after draining business dinners. This year, we’d finally had a baby. The perfect testament to our love, and I’d truly believed our bond was unbreakable. But now, Owen’s arrival had shattered every bit of understanding and trust we’d painstakingly built.
Sophia didn’t come home that night. I knew she was using it to express her anger and resentment. The next morning, I took off my leg bandage and went straight to the office. Employees glanced up, surprise flashing in their eyes, then quickly offered polite greetings. “Mr. Blackwood, aren’t you still recovering from your injury? Why are you in today?” a young receptionist asked, her concern clear. “Some things need my personal attention.” With a curt nod, I headed straight for the executive floor. But the moment the elevator doors opened, I heard laughter spilling from Sophia’s office. Through the half-open door, I saw Owen. He was sitting right next to her. Sophia’s eyes were sparkling with laughter, a stark contrast to the icy demeanor she usually reserved for other assistants. Normally, she never allowed anyone but me to linger in her office, let alone see such a tender expression on her face. Yet here she was, practically pressed against Owen, both of them chatting away like old friends. Owen was wearing a designer suit. The exact style I’d admired months ago, the one Sophia had mentioned getting for me. It wasn’t just expensive; it was a limited edition, only five pieces ever made, worldwide. And now, it was on an intern. I pushed the door open. Their laughter died an abrupt, unnatural death. Sophia’s smile froze on her face. “What are you doing here?” Owen scrambled to his feet, pasting on a respectful expression. His voice, syrupy soft, addressed me. “I heard you just had surgery, Mr. Blackwood. Shouldn’t you be resting at home? Why the sudden visit?” I scoffed. “Who gave you permission to meddle in my affairs? And which idiot hired this disrespectful waste of space?!” Owen’s fake smile shattered, his mouth gaping uselessly. “Take that suit off. Now.” The temperature in the room dropped to absolute zero. Owen’s eyes widened, his lips trembling in disbelief. He looked at Sophia, his gaze openly pleading. I turned to Sophia, my eyes like chips of ice. “Explain why my suit is on him.” Sophia’s brow furrowed, her voice sharp with impatience. “Owen was being talked about by a lot of colleagues after the office incident yesterday, so I gave him a small compensation.” She then looked at me, dismissively, “It’s just a suit, Liam. I’ll get you a better one later.” “Compensation?” I scoffed. “This suit might not be a fortune to us, but it’s still one of only five haute couture pieces in the world. What rank does Owen have to deserve wearing something like this? Besides, yesterday’s mess was his own fault for not knowing his place. Sophia, have you forgotten your place? Have you forgotten who I am? Who gave you the right to just hand out my possessions like they’re nothing?” Owen’s face went ghost-white at my outburst. He stammered, “I’m… I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood. I didn’t know it was yours…” “Now you know. Take it off. Right now.” Sophia, seeing me cut Owen off and still relentless, finally snapped. “Liam! That’s enough! We have a project to discuss. Don’t make a scene here!” My heart sank. She never, ever raised her voice at me in the office. Yet now, she was breaking that rule for Owen. And Owen? Seeing Sophia stand up for him, he subtly let out a relieved breath. “Project? What project?” “The Thompson Group partnership. Owen and I were just about to leave.” Sophia tugged at her cuff, her tone even more impatient. “Assistant Miller has been a huge help on this, so I’m bringing him along to the meeting.” I raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile playing on my lips. “Oh? I didn’t realize an intern had so much pull he could influence decisions at a publicly traded company?” Sophia’s face was thunderous. She grabbed her bag and motioned for Owen to follow. “Let’s go. Don’t waste any more time.” As they brushed past me, Owen shot me a smug, triumphant smirk, his eyes glinting with pure provocation. Sophia, you asked for this. If you insist on defending Owen, then don’t expect me to hold back. After they left, I pulled out my phone and dialed Mr. Thompson’s private number. “Mr. Thompson, it’s Liam Blackwood. Regarding the partnership Sophia Sterling was scheduled to discuss today…”
An hour later, I got a call from Sophia. She was furious, her voice practically roaring. “Liam, what the hell are you trying to do?! Mr. Thompson not only publicly humiliated Owen, calling him a kept man, a boy toy who slept his way to the top! He also said Sterling Group owes its existence to you, claiming I’m taking advantage of your recovery to run off with other men, that I’m ungrateful and disloyal! You put him up to this, didn’t you?!” I chuckled softly. “Sophia, I can’t control what people think or say. If there’s truth to it, others will see it for themselves.” “Owen was too humiliated to stay, and the deal fell through. Happy now?” “Ecstatic. You both got exactly what you deserved!” After hanging up, the rage in my chest finally began to cool. Shortly after, Mark, my assistant, texted me with an update. Owen’s humiliation had spread through the entire company. When he returned, colleagues openly pointed and whispered about him. Some even confronted him, calling him arrogant, manipulative, and talentless, claiming he’d only gotten ahead through dirty tricks. Everything on his desk had been dumped in the trash. He screamed, hoarsely protesting that he wasn’t that kind of person, begging them not to treat him like this. But no one in the company was listening. Who would stick their neck out for an intern against the Vice President? Everyone was ready to kick him while he was down. I’d seen this kind of thing countless times. Owen was just getting what he deserved. A mere intern with no background, no real talent, thinking he could skyrocket to the top just because Sophia gave him a little attention? What a joke! Humiliated and enraged, Owen submitted his resignation. Since he hadn’t even been officially onboarded, HR approved it without a second thought, practically instantly. Owen had brought this entirely upon himself. Who told him to be so arrogant, coveting a position—and a woman—that weren’t his? Sophia finally managed to appease the Thompson Group after their disastrous meeting. But when she returned to the office, only to find Owen gone for good, her face went utterly black. When she finally came home that evening, I was putting Leo to bed. The little guy’s face was so chubby, his nose and eyes exactly like Sophia’s. She stood in the nursery doorway, her expression terrifyingly grim, yet she deliberately kept her voice low. “Owen did nothing wrong! He’s just a hardworking kid, and now, because of you, he’s lost his job and his reputation is ruined!” Her voice was a hiss. “Liam, you need to rein in your spoiled brat tantrums!” I silenced her with a look, gently placing my sleeping son back in his crib. After closing the door behind us, I finally spoke. “Sophia, I’ll say this one last time: I did not instigate Owen’s humiliation or his resignation.” Even though I told myself it didn’t matter, the fire and distrust in Sophia’s eyes still made my heart ache. “Honestly, Sophia, ask yourself: how many rules have you broken for Owen? Your tacit approval, your indulgence, that’s what made him think he could get away with anything.” “Owen and I are completely innocent!” Sophia shot back, agitated. “Innocent? Would you give him something that originally belonged to me? Would you let him move into your office? Don’t forget, the last assistant wasn’t even allowed to bring a temporary chair into your office for a meeting! But now, for Owen, you’re constantly breaking your own rules, even glaring at your own husband for him!” I stepped closer to Sophia, towering over her, my voice low and deliberate. “Sophia, I admit, I did love you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have married you, wouldn’t have given you my child. But you also know, I, Liam Blackwood, don’t tolerate a single speck of dust in my eye. I won’t stand for even a hint of betrayal or deceit.” My gaze hardened. “If you dare cross that line, even if it’s just emotional wandering or ambiguity, I won’t hesitate to find a new mother for my son!” Sophia’s face was ashen. She spun around and stalked off to the guest bedroom. But I knew. This argument, for all its heat, was over. She’d go to the guest room, calm down, and by tomorrow, we’d make up and move on. That was the unspoken agreement we’d had for five years, the way we handled our marriage. Except, all our previous arguments had been about business or family. This—this quarrel over romantic feelings—this was a first. And it would be the last.
The next morning, Sophia’s phone rang bright and early. Owen’s name flashed on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, then answered. Owen’s voice, choked with sobs, spilled from the phone. “I… I really don’t know what to do…” “Slow down. What happened?” Sophia asked, her brows furrowed, her voice unexpectedly gentle. “I’m being cyberbullied! My photos are all over the internet, and everyone’s calling me names, saying I’m a kept man, that I slept my way to the top! I’m so scared, I can’t even leave the house…” Owen’s voice trembled, filled with terror and helplessness, faint sobs punctuating his words. Sophia’s face contorted, a literal fire burning in her eyes as she glared at me. “Don’t panic. Stay home, don’t move. I’ll handle it right away.” The news of Owen crossing me had already spread like wildfire through our industry circles. Even without my explicit instruction, our partners would actively jump to do things like this just to curry favor with me. I’d checked the online situation that morning; it wasn’t nearly as severe as Owen claimed. But I had to admit, his vulnerable, pitiful act had perfectly triggered Sophia’s protective instincts. Sophia’s fury erupted the moment she hung up. She slammed her phone onto the table, her eyes red, demanding, “Liam, what the hell do you want?! Owen is gone from the company, gone from us. Why are you still targeting him?! You’ve become so malicious! Abusing your power and influence as the CEO’s husband, just to wreak havoc!” I slammed my own coffee cup down, not backing down an inch. “Sophia, I told you, I did nothing.” “Who in this entire company doesn’t know he crossed you? Who else but you would do something like this?” I scoffed. “Sophia, in all these years, have you ever known me to do something and not own up to it? You’re repeatedly questioning me, over and over, all for some intern. I think he’s completely blinded you!” Sophia’s face was livid. She spun around and stormed out, the door slamming shut behind her. I slowly, methodically, wiped my mouth. Watching her retreating back, a flicker of profound disappointment ignited in my eyes. That afternoon, I was scrolling through social media. To my surprise, the overwhelming deluge of negative posts about Owen had vanished. In their place was an official statement from Sterling Group. It claimed Owen possessed exceptional talent and had joined Sterling Group solely on his merit. The statement sternly declared that Sterling Group would not tolerate malicious rumors about its employees and would pursue legal action against anyone spreading false information online. My phone screen lit up with a new message notification. It was Mark. “Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Sterling just did more than have the legal department issue a statement. She publicly announced that Owen is returning to the company immediately as her Chief Secretary. Anyone caught spreading rumors, gossiping, or badmouthing him will be fired on the spot!” Mark continued. “Now the whole company is buzzing that Mrs. Sterling and Owen have an ‘unusual’ relationship.” Immediately after, Mark sent another screenshot. It was from Owen’s SnapChat. “The storms of the workplace are behind me! True talent always shines through the fire, and my hard work has been recognized! Thank you, Ms. Sterling, for believing in my abilities!” The post included a photo of an official offer letter. He was being rehired as Sterling Group’s Chief Secretary, with a salary on par with a Vice President. I stared at that sickening SnapChat post, then slammed my phone onto the table, pure murder flashing in my eyes. Not long after, Sophia came home to retrieve some documents. She didn’t even spare me a glance. She walked straight upstairs, grabbed something from her office, and was about to leave. I tapped my fingers lightly on the coffee table, stopping her. “Sophia, what is the meaning of this?” She paused, turning a cold gaze on me. “Owen is just a diligent, hardworking employee. Yet, for no good reason, you targeted him, drove him out of the company, and even cyberbullied him!” Her voice hardened. “I’m simply rectifying your mistake, Liam. This is what Owen deserves.” “What if I demand you fire him?” “Then go ahead and try! I’ve tolerated your every whim and let you abuse your power to hurt others all these years, out of respect for you as my husband! But I’m utterly fed up with your behavior now. This time, I won’t sacrifice Owen, and I won’t let you run wild anymore!” Sophia turned and left, the slamming door echoing through the entire villa. In that moment, I was utterly, irrevocably disappointed in her. Five years of marriage, of knowing and supporting each other, fractured like this, all because of a man who’d only been in our lives for two weeks. I sat on the couch, anger and disappointment a bitter knot in my chest. The glass in my hand shattered, shards digging into my palm, blood trickling down. I forced myself to calm down. Sophia, you will absolutely pay for what you’ve done today!
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “351487”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #惊悚Thriller #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf
Leave a Reply